Steelers' Mike McCarthy Pushes Back at QB Rumor

PITTSBURGH — With one final preseason game left, the Pittsburgh Steelers still do not have clarity at the quarterback position. Yes, the starting job was secured the moment Aaron Rodgers signed his contract to return to the franchise.

Behind Rodgers, however, things remain up in the air for the Steelers. Mason Rudolph is presumably on the roster after head coach Mike McCarthy opted not to play him or Rodgers in the second preseason game. It left a huge opportunity for second-year player Will Howard, who put together an unimpressive first start in the NFL.

But a recent report from veteran insider Gerry Dulac claimed that McCarthy had already decided to keep all four quarterbacks on the team’s initial 53-man roster. The head coach pushed back on that assumption, however, making it clear that nothing has been officially decided yet.

“Yeah, I haven’t been part of any conversations where the 53 has been selected already,” he clarified for reporters. “Anything, Any position, any realm, we definitely have ideas. But I think it’s evident we’re trying to play the players in as many combinations.”

Why Steelers Won’t Carry 4 Quarterbacks

The thought of keeping four talented quarterbacks is certainly an enticing one for the Steelers, but the reality is it makes very little sense to do so.

Firstly, four quarterbacks is a roster construction nightmare when it comes to versatility and efficiency, two things the coaching staff has stressed all offseason. How do you justify keeping four on the roster, rendering two inactive on a weekly basis? If all things go well, the Steelers will only have one QB on the field for all 17 games in the 2026 season, so what good is having four in that scenario? Even in case of injuries, you don’t need three backups to fill the void. That’s at least one spot that could be used for another, more useful and productive player.

Secondly, the four quarterbacks available are not players that they cannot afford to part with. Rudolph is a dime-a-dozen backup quarterback in the NFL. He’s talented and provides value, but he’s not indispensable. Howard showed that he’s still a long-term project, and it doesn’t guarantee he will be anything further than a Rudolph-level backup in the NFL.

Aug 21, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar (16) throws a pass against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Rookie QB Remains Steelers Focus

Meanwhile, the Steelers already have their long-term project. Drew Allar has shown flashes in his limited preseason reps, and it’s clear that McCarthy views him favorably.

Furthermore, it’s clear that Allar is progressing under the new head coach. His footwork has looked drastically improved, and that is an encouraging development for the former third-round pick.

That leaves very little space for a fourth quarterback, and that unfortunately leaves Howard as the odd-man out. At the least, nothing has been determined, according to McCarthy.

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